Dr. Tim’s Neurotic Rules of Ficly Life
[Disclaimer: This is not intended to be binding nor in any way an expectation of general members of Ficly, league members, family members or wearers of Member’s Only jackets]
1. Comment to Story posting ratio must exceed 5:1. Goal is 10:1. In other words, I write a story then find five others (at least) upon which to comment before writing another.
2. For every solo shot or sequel of my own material, I must write a sequel or prequel to the work of another author. If I’m going easy on myself, participating in a challenge also fulfills this requirement.
3. If someone comments on one of my stories, I go find one of theirs upon which to comment. It only seems fair, and I like to think it encourages commenting.
4. Awesomeness is the goal, always. Call me on it when I fail, please.
5. Clearly mark mature content and err on the side of caution.
6. Golden Rule remains in effect for all sequels, prequels, and comments.
Stories
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In The Moment, Out of Sense
The paint came in torrents, coating the canvas in dark swaths. White became gray became blue became white again, all layered in savagery and revenge to rival the throws of Mother Nature. Tints of brown and gold swept up from below, buffeting up against...
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Man on the Corner
Man on the corner Where did you go Tattered sign and all Shabby clothes to make the look Forlorn look In the pouring rain Man on the corner Where did you go Life seems to beat The sould from its shell Left as a husk No move left to make Life in the ba...
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Awesomeness Report
Today, March 10th, is the International Day of Awesomeness. I planned, set goals, and managed to have a fairly awesome day. My awesomeness included but was not limited to: 1) Took ridiculous action shots in the office, when I should have been doing som...
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Meaning of It All, Piratically Speaking
Hyrum spat into the sea, sure to turn his head to leeward. He evaded his own spit being blown back at him, but the sea spray dampened his neck to send a chill down his spine. Early September in the Atlantic was no time to be on deck in a nightshirt as ...
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Enunciate, People...Enunciate for Crap's Sake
“Ladies, work it like you own it!” Esmerelda deQueervane called out from behind the curtain. The music thumped like a freight train on acid, and she was loving every second of sonic assault. The very night sang to her beneath the DJ’s...
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Moment Held and Lost
The lights shone bright, just for Jerald. The announcer went through the preamble, conditions and historical reference, as he had instructed. When the moment arrived, the crowd cheered, just for him. This was his moment. Clad in a simple but authentic ...
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Ficly is...
Ficly is a giant, online creative writing class with no teacher and a lot of eager students. That’s how I like to think of it, and its why I love it. The best part is that it is a class based entirely on lab work. The whole site serves as a locus...
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Fragile Things
“Definitely insane.” “I concur, utterly mad…with a dash of stupid.” “Look,” Brandon shot up from under the hood, “if you two idiots aren’t going to help, then leave. I’ll do it myself.” ...
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Lectures, Distractions, and Secretions
“…considerations of the metaphysical must never be given undo precedence in the face of the mythical…” Thaddeus droned on and on, as he always did. Lenora’s mind began to wander, as it often did. The slanting rays of the s...
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Expectations of the Bottle Deflty Swung
Nearly void of its recent distilled contents, the bottle glinted in the array of lights in the bar. The yellow light over the pool table shone through its square sides at the apex of its arc. The blue from the neon Bud Light sign danced along its squar...
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Back and Back, Time and Time
Fatigue has become my constant companion, through time upon time. Other people seem distant to me now, like accessories to the surreal tableau of fantasy that is my existence. She is always there, ever present just outside full awareness. I’m pre...
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From Within a Cardboard Castle
From behind cardboard fortifications, Jacob looked out upon unfamiliar terrain. His fort was indeed mighty, from its refrigerator box watchtower to its spacious dryer box living quarters. The yard sloped away, a carpet of Summer grass. A stately two-st...
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Dreams and Cypress Trees
The song cut through the humid air despite the tinge of static, “…doctor, doctor, gimme the news, I gotta bad case of lovin you…” “Orville, turn that down!” With one hand hold the cigarette out the window, one hand h...
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Civility, Dignity, Sterility
Civility, Dignity, Sterility Such pompous ideals, there to constrain Real-me who sees your pain so clearly A burden of woes across face and life The oil slick of travails and news I give Would that I could wrap you in a hug One embrace to say life can ...
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She, a New Development
I thought I had it figured out. I’d only jump back so far at a time. The day planner helped me get oriented quickly and not miss things. It was also handy for quickly jotting down things that were going to happen. Little things like quoting movies an...
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Resolutions Amongst the Odors and Vapors
Somewhere between the cacophony of the crowd and the sound of his own heartbeat thundering in his ears, reality melted away in the dingy bathroom. Something scuttled across the broken, lime-green tile; Peter decided not to look. Eyes front and jaw set ...
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Violence, Blood, and Money
Thus ushered in, Ryan and Peter followed the lumbering hulk of a figure down a narrow, dimly lit corridor, approaching ever closer to the glowing source of noise and odor. Peter just kept mumbling, “Bad idea, bad idea…” “Shh,...
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Outside, Inside, and Openings
Peter shifted, borrowed dress shoes crunching gravel, “Let’s go. I told you it was bullsh…” “We’re not going anywhere,” Ryan shot back over his shoulder flatly. Again he knocked, more resolutely this time, R...
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Serviceable Blade
“Not much to look at, is it?” the young man scoffed at the blade, roughly made and without ornamentation. “It’s serviceable is what it is,” corrected the merchant, “Blade on one side for slicing, teeth on the back fo...
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Big Game, Big Problem
“Coach, we can’t do it. You gotta put in Henders.” The crowd clamored uneasily as if to emphasize the young woman’s plea. The game had only a few minutes left, a few precious minutes, perhaps enough time for a few clutch three p...
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Quiet Voice in Shadow
“Interesting choice,” came a whispered commentary as she pulled the glorious gem from its resting place. A litany of swear words ran through her mind though she forced herself to stay silent, eyes forward as she pocketed the thing of beauty...
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All Left to Be Done
Randall waited, as he always did for the crowd to disperse. The doctor, full of fatigue and some unspoken heaviness, pronounced the moment of death, a speck of precision amidst the vast uncertainty of the hereafter. The nurses retreated, so much to do,...
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Interlude Before the Work at Hand
“What do you do for work again?” I’ve always hated it when my dates ask this. “I work for the State department.” The dumb ones don’t realize that’s the federal government, which is why I like the dumb ones. Amo...
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The Lost Summer
The next few months were a blur of denial, hair-brained attempts to put things right, and a few too many inebriated nights. I always think of that time as my lost summer. Since then I’ve refound those months, a few times actually, but that second...
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Greatest Swordsman Ever
Greatest Swordsman Ever. They’ll put that on my tombstone, Jerald thought to himself while his agent hovered around him. His assistant was getting the kakuobi to sit just right. The sounds of an eager crowd reverberating through the arena walls p...
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Second Chancers - Heavy Hangs the Head
Upon his heavy seat at the head of the great hall, Gunnar rested an uneasy head upon a massive fist. The place of honor had been his father’s and his grandfather’s before that. No one spoke of any leader before that, so great had been their...
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To Find a God
What is man that I dare keep from him the fate long ago set to by star and gods? This area, a holy den, this vale on the isle of jade and wood, once held its hand to make soft the drop of one from on high. Long set to a tomb of rock and weed, told of i...
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Perils of Being a Dreamer
In the dusty light of the attic, Harmon sat cross-legged, which he really shouldn’t have been doing on account of his knees. Tear after tear made their slow courses down his face, a face no longer young but not quite what one might call old. Tany...
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Broken Winter's Poem
Left in this garden Bereft of life ’neath this snow Lone, near dead myself Mine anger burns bright Against the season’s harsh chill Warmer than sorrow Woody cathedral Towering majestically Above what pains us so Here I leave my love For to ...
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Etudes of Summer
“The fog is long passed. Why must you fret so?” Mary Whitham asked her question from the doorway, not daring to cross the threshold. Barnaby didn’t look at her but ceased from his reading and covered his weary eyes with his hand, R...
